Comeback ‘kids’ eye a spot in Sabah elections

Former chief ministers who might contest: Harris Salleh, Chong Kah Kiat, Salleh Said Keruak.

KOTA KINABALU: The coming Sabah snap election is fast becoming regarded as a possible comeback election for a number of former political heavyweights.

Among those being talked about is Harris Salleh, a past chief minister, who is being tempted to head the United Sabah National Organisation, now known as Usno Baru.

Harris, now 90, is widely credited with the state’s development when he headed the Berjaya governments from 1976 to 1985, in what was known as “Sabah’s golden era”.

Harris spoke to a local daily recently and the veteran politician neither denied nor confirmed talk that he was returning to politics, although he said a change in government was necessary.

“There has been little economic progress since Berjaya except for the period of (former chief minister) Musa Aman,” he told the Daily Express.

“I cannot say for sure that I will take up the challenge. I am now 90 and if I decide to heed the calls and Usno is able to form the government with the help of friendly parties in the opposition, my priority would be to put Sabah right economically before handing over in a year or so.

“It must be acknowledged that we have witnessed progress in infrastructure in the state. But infrastructure alone without rural economic progress will lead to people becoming poorer.”

The elections for a new state assembly will be held on Sept 29. There will be 73 seats at stake compared to 60 in 2018.

Another former chief minister who is certain to make a return to the election campaign is Chong Kah Kiat, ex-president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), once part of the Barisan Nasional ruling coalition.

Chong, a popular and well-liked figure in state politics, has declined to comment when asked by FMT whether he was coming back to active politics.

SAPP president Yong Teck Lee.

However, acting LDP president Chin Su Phin confirmed that the party’s inspirational leader will be leading the charge as an independent entity. He said Chong will contest in a west coast seat.

Chong was chief minister from 2001 to 2003 as part of a rotation system devised by Barisan Nasional chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad in his first tenure as prime minister.

A third “comeback kid” might be Salleh Said Keruak, also a past CM, who is also said to be eyeing his chances.

Musa Aman was the longest-serving chief minister.

Salleh, a former Sabah Umno chief, was once communications and multimedia minister in the federal Cabinet. He left Umno after the 2018 general election and applied to join PKR but changed his mind and applied to rejoin Umno. His application is still pending.

All eyes are also on SAPP president Yong Teck Lee, another former chief minister.

Then there is the question of Musa Aman, who was Sabah’s longest serving chief minister, from 2003 to 2018, and whether he would defend his Sungai Sibuga seat.

Pandikar Amin Mulia was speaker of the Dewan Rakyat.

He was the sole Umno assemblyman in the previous state assembly, following the exodus of senior state Umno leaders in 2018, who joined PPBM.

Another heavyweight is former Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia who is believed to be making a return with Usno Baru. - FMT